by Pat Spence
“Open the door,” she instructed, “I want to see what’s inside.”
Quickly, I pulled back the loose brick and took out the key, placing it in the keyhole. It turned smoothly and then the door was opening and we were on the threshold of the Clock Tower room.
“Where’s the crystal?” demanded Kimberly, unable to hide her disappointment at finding an empty room.
“Over there,” I pointed to the far wall. “There’s a secret panel with a casket behind it.”
“Get it out,” she instructed.
I hovered on the threshold, Viyesha’s words fresh in my head. Seth and Tash watched, wide-eyed.
“This is as far as I come, Kimberley. The room has been attuned and isn’t safe. I’m not stepping over the threshold. If you want the crystal, it's over there. Now, let us go.”
“I don’t think so, Emily. Get the casket out. Now!” She held the gun against Tash’s temple. “If you value your friend’s life, you’ll step into the room.”
“Please, Emily,” said Tash faintly.
This wasn’t part of my plan, but I had no choice. Closing my eyes, I stepped into the room. Nothing happened. No strange feelings and no sudden ageing. I was okay. Slowly, I walked over to the loose brick and pulled it out, revealing the lever. As Viyesha had done, I moved it to the right, and, as before, a panel in the wall opened, revealing the secret alcove containing the silver casket.
“Wow,” whistled Seth. “That is cool.”
“So much for the room not being safe, Emily,” scoffed Kimberley. “A nice ruse but I’m not buying it. Now pick up the casket and place it in the centre of the room.”
With shaking hands, I lifted it out, and placed it amidst the hieroglyphics. Kimberley watched as the ancient symbols started to glow, and the faint, inky blue and green became bright and effervescent. I was in unchartered territory now. Viyesha had kept the crystal away from the hieroglyphics, so I had no idea what would happen. She’d said they would act like a nuclear reactor, triggering its power, so I assumed I was about to see the crystal in all its post-Blue Moon glory, and was all too horribly aware what that signified for me.
“Open the casket,” said Kimberley, standing in the doorway, her eyes full of anticipation and wonder. This was what she’d been searching for, the answer to her prayers, eternal youth within her grasp. She had no idea of the crystal’s destructive power.
“I can’t,” I said. “The crystal is too powerful. I don’t know what it will do.”
“If you won’t, Ginger will,” said Kimberley, pushing Tash into the room.
“Emily, don’t make me do this,” sobbed Tash. “I don't want to go near the crystal. I just want to go home.”
I looked at Tash and at Kimberley. If I opened the casket, this could be the end for me. But what choice did I have?
While I procrastinated, Seth grabbed the opportunity.
“I’ll do it,” he said, stepping forward, in a misplaced attempt to play the hero.
While I admired his bravery, I couldn’t let him. He had no idea of the consequences and, as he went to open the casket, I snatched it out of his reach.
“No, Seth, you can’t. Get back! You don’t know the stakes you’re playing with. I’ll do it. Everyone get out of the room.”
Looking surprised at my tone of voice, Seth backed away.
“I mean it,” I said. “Every one, step back over the threshold. I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Kimberley gestured for Seth and Tash to fall back, and they all stood in the doorway, watching me silently.
I said a prayer, placed the casket on the floor and slowly lifted the lid. Immediately, the room was filled with a brilliant blue light. The crystal sparkled and shone, bright blue veins of pulsing energy running along its facets, spilling out of the casket and onto the floorboards.
“Oh my God,” whispered Kimberly, completely awestruck. “It’s beautiful. I had no idea. I can feel the energy. It’s already making me feel young.”
“OMG, that is amazing,” said Tash.
“Yowza wowza,” said Seth. “Look at that!”
Blue light filled the room and, despite the danger, I felt an overwhelming sense of wellbeing and love as I looked at the crystal.
“Pick it up,” instructed Kimberley.
Aware that this really could be the last thing I did, I placed my fingers around the crystal’s cold, hard surface and felt its warm light travelling up my arm, energising and rejuvenating. Slowly, I picked it up and held it in the palm of my hand, blue shards of energy pulsing around me. I felt amazing, invincible and strong, as though a powerful drug was pulsing through my veins.
“Dangerous my foot!” exclaimed Kimberley. “You just want eternal youth for yourself. Let me have it.”
She dropped the gun and, pushing Seth and Tash out of the way, darted towards the crystal, her eyes glinting with desire, the blue light flickering in her face. She smiled at me as her fingers closed around the crystal and then it was in her hand, and the blue flames were running up her arm, pulsing all round her body, consuming her in a living blue light.
I turned to Seth and Tash.
“For God’s sake, get out of here now! Before the family gets back or Pantera comes. She can’t know you’ve seen the crystal.”
“Not without you, Emily,” said Tash, firmly.
“We’re not leaving unless you come with us,” said Seth.
I could see they were determined, but they had no idea of the danger they were in. I had to act quickly if I were to save my friends.
“Okay,” I said, thinking fast, “there’s a door at the bottom of the Clock Tower leading to the gardens. We’ll use that. Let’s go.”
I just hoped Joseph had replaced the warped, swollen door. If not, we were dead, because by now, I knew Pantera would be on her way. Quickly, we ran down the spiral steps, Seth and Tash leading the way.
“Don’t take the corridor,” I instructed. “Keep going down.”
It seemed to take forever, going round and round, down and down the spiral staircase, until finally we reached the ground floor. I looked around. We were in a small dark empty chamber and there to one side was the door, thankfully replaced with new timber, a metal key in the keyhole.
“This way,” I said, running to the door and turning the key. The door swung outwards, sunlight pouring in, and I opened it wide for Seth and Tash. I let them believe I was coming with them, following them outside and saying, “Over there to the circular fountain, there’s a pathway that leads to the church.” Then, at the last minute, I stepped back in, closed the door behind me and turned the key.
“Emily, what are you doing?” cried Seth, turning and hammering on the door.
“Come out, Emily, don’t be stupid,” called Tash.
“Sorry guys,” I called from behind the door, “I have to go back. I can’t come with you. Take the path to the church and you’ll be safe. I have to see Theo. I’ll see you in college on Monday and I’ll explain everything.”
I left them calling and hammering on the door, and prayed I was doing the right thing.
As fast as I could, I ran back up the spiral staircase, up to the Clock Tower room, not knowing what I would find.
Breathless, I arrived and stared at the sight before me. Kimberley was standing in the centre of the room, bathed in blue light, the crystal still in her hand, rivulets of blue energy covering her body in a criss-cross network. She looked radiant, her skin glowing and translucent, her eyes shining and bright. I knew what she was feeling. That over-powering sensation of wellbeing and euphoria, as if you could do anything, take on the world.
Then, slowly her face began to change and I saw a startled, uncomprehending look pass over her features. Before she could speak, there was a popping sound as her lips burst and collagen oozed down her chin. The veneers in her mouth dropped like peas from a pod, revealing blackened stumps beneath, and her hair became wispy and grey, the long extensions dropping to the floor like freshly cut corn. Her s
kin began to droop and sag, hanging on her bones like rags on a tree, and her body began to stoop and shrink, her catsuit too large for her wizened frame. With a horrible smacking sound, her breast implants fell to the floor, simply too large for the shrunken creature she’d become.
“No,” she screamed, in a harsh, rasping voice, looking at the wrinkled, mottled skin on her arms. “What’s happening? I want to stay young.” She threw the crystal onto the floor and backed towards the wall.
“Stop it happening,” she croaked at me, “reverse the process.”
I stared at her aghast. “I can’t. I’m sorry. I tried to warn you. The crystal’s just too powerful.”
Her back was up against the window and I could hardly bear to look at the grotesque creature she’d become. She seemed to crumple and shrink before my eyes, her skin drying out like old parchment, shrinking and splitting to reveal the skeleton beneath. I turned away, unable to watch this premature death and decomposition. It was horrible but at least the demise of Kimberly Chartreuse was quick. Within seconds, she was nothing more than a heap of bones, and then even the bones began to disintegrate, turning into a pile of fine grey dust. What normally took thousands of years had occurred in less than a minute.
I slumped back against the cold stone wall of the Clock Tower, stunned and shocked, the thought running through my head, “That could have been me”.
If I thought the ordeal was over, however, I was wrong.
The crystal lay in the centre of the room, blue and pulsing, the energy radiating outwards.
Although I didn’t hear anything, I was aware of something above my head and slowly looked up. There above me, nestled into the wooden struts that formed the room’s arched roof was a malevolent black entity. It hung, like an ominous black bat, two glistening eyes watching all that had happened. I tried to scream, but the sound died in my throat and I was aware of a terrible chill emanating from the creature. I pushed myself closer into the wall, wondering if I could make it to the door or whether I should try to put the crystal back in the casket.
This, I knew, was one of the Dark Ones that Theo had mentioned, dark matter that sought human form, its only means of achieving its goal the crystal that lay before me. What was it Theo had said? This was the threat the Guardians took seriously, the dark force they thought they’d destroyed that night in the fields. Clearly, they hadn’t been successful, and a stray had somehow found its way to the crystal. When I opened the door, I must have inadvertently let it in.
Instinctively, I put my hand to my neck, expecting to find my crystal there. Then I remembered. Kimberley had taken it. So where was it now? I looked over to the pile of dust at the far side of the room, and there, twinkling and shining amidst the remains of Kimberley Chartreuse, lay my crystal with its silver chain.
With a gasp, I dived for it, my fingers delving into the dust and clasping the crystal for all I was worth. At the same time, the entity dropped and I had the sensation of a black octopus landing over me, cold and clammy, fastening on to me and sucking out any positive thought. Never had I felt so negative, weak and utterly exposed. I tried to scream, but the blackness filled my mouth, suffocating and smothering, and as I fought to breathe, I realised the monster was sucking the breath out of me, pulling out my life force with deadly speed and precision.
Just as I felt I was slipping into unconsciousness, a blood-chilling, deep-throated roar filled the Clock Tower room, its reverberations echoing around me, and I felt the hideous black entity being ripped from my body. I was thrown to one side like a rag doll and lay, spent and exhausted, watching as another black shape, all sinewy muscle and gleaming fur, fell upon my attacker.
For what seemed like an age, but was in reality no more than a few seconds, the two forces did battle: one an amorphous black shadow, the other a magnificent black panther, with gleaming white teeth and savage yellow eyes. I cowered as I watched the panther sink its hooked claws into the black matter, tearing it apart with power and fury. A horrible screaming rent the air and within seconds the black entity was dead, ripped to shreds that fell to the floor like pieces of blackened, burnt rubber.
Instantly, they began to disintegrate, evaporating into the air until nothing remained.
Silently, the huge black cat watched, making sure no portion remained, then in front of my eyes, its sleek black form began to change. The fur retracted, its shape elongated upwards, and it began to take on human form. Suddenly, I was looking at Pantera, haughty, ruthless and condescending as ever.
“Pantera,” I gasped, “thank you…”
“Thank you for what?” she spat at me. “You think I did this for you? My job is to protect the crystal. Not you. If you didn’t have your protective necklace in your hand, I would have destroyed you as well. ” Her voice was full of hatred and dislike. She indicated the pile of dust on the floor that had once been Kimberley Chartreuse. “You and that harlot let this damned creature in. You had no right coming to this room. It is hallowed territory and you betrayed us.”
I gasped at her words. “No, Pantera. I would never betray you….”
“Silence! You should have gone the same way as her. Done us all a favour.”
“What kind of creature are you?” I asked her. “Do you have no compassion or feeling?”
“I am older and more powerful than you will ever be,” she hissed back at me.
Quickly, she picked up the pulsing blue crystal and placed it back inside the casket, closing the lid firmly. At once, the room became drab and monochrome, as if we were in an old black and white movie, and I felt a chill descend around me. She placed the casket into the alcove and moved the lever into the upright position, so the panel slid back into place. Then placing the loose brick into the wall, she turned to me and said in a cold, matter of fact voice, “Your death would be a blessing. You put the crystal at risk, which we cannot allow. Whatever the family’s wishes, your days are numbered. I personally will see to it.”
She turned to walk out of the room and nearly collided with Theo, moving rapidly up the stairs.
“Emily,” he shouted, running in to the room and seeing the dusty heap that had once been Kimberley. “What are you doing in here? Are you all right? Thank goodness Pantera was here to protect you.”
He pulled me to him and for a split second my eyes met Pantera’s over his shoulder. Her enmity and hatred sliced into me, then she was gone, disappearing down the spiral stairs. I clung to Theo, feeling his strong arms around me, providing a haven of safety and security. He saw Kimberley’s small black pistol, lying on the floor where she had thrown it, and held me tighter.
“Emily, what happened here today? I should never have left you.”
“I’m okay,” I said quietly. “Now you’re here, Theo, everything’s alright.”
But his next words brought a fresh chill to my heart and my newfound feeling of wellbeing was short lived.
“I’m sorry, Emily, we have no time,” he said gently. “The Lunari are downstairs and they want to meet you.”
32. The Lunari
Theo and I walked into the library. The curtains had been drawn and the light was dim.
The family sat at one side of the large polished mahogany table, and I noticed Leon was back. As usual, Aquila and Pantera stood to one side, surly and aggressive. I made sure not to make eye contact with either of them. I needed my wits about me and would not let them intimidate me. Two empty chairs were placed at the table, between Violet and Joseph, and Theo and I sat in them. Opposite were three more empty places and I looked at Theo questioningly, but he shook his head, telling me not to speak.
We waited in silence for no more than a minute, then the library doors were flung open and three individuals, wearing long blue cloaks, entered the room. Each had the smooth even features of the de Lucis family and long blond hair. I guessed they were male, but their beauty was so intense, they could have passed for either gender. In a split second, my eyes took in the details: the dark glasses giving an air of intrigue and
mystery, the ivory skin and cruel mouths, the exquisitely manicured hands, large jewelled rings and long fingernails tapering to sinister points.
They were sleek and deadly, like beautiful vipers.
As they moved into the room, everything began to ripple and change around me, as if in a dream sequence. The walls extended outwards and the wooden panelling became rough, dark stone, while the ceiling rose upwards into an inky blackness. Beneath my feet the floor became smooth and cold, and torch lanterns, placed at regular intervals along the walls, created sombre, dancing shadows, their flickering light revealing strange markings carved into the stone. Yet again, I noticed a circle crossed by an infinity symbol.
An eerie chill filled the air, making me shiver, and I realised we were in a stone chamber of cavernous proportions. The table at which we sat had also altered, changing into a huge oval of smooth black granite, lit from above by a large, wrought iron lantern, bearing hundreds of small burning candles, and suspended from the cavern roof by a heavy black chain. Our seats were immovable stone thrones, placed at regular intervals around the table, each made comfortable by cushions in thick, blue woven fabric.
The three creatures took their seats at the head of the table and the one in the centre began to speak, making my skin prickle and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
“Good evening, every one. Good evening, Emily. Please forgive our indulgence, we do so prefer to be in familiar surroundings. As it was not possible for you to come to us, so we have come to you, bringing our world with us.”
He spoke in soft, sibilant tones, his voice smooth and caressing, but with the hypnotic power of a snake about to strike. A hint of menace hung in the air and I felt I’d entered a deep pool where hidden underwater currents swirled ominously below the surface, threatening to pull me under.
Once again, I looked at Theo, questioningly, and again he shook his head.
“Emily, I must apologise,” the creature continued, “I have the advantage. I know you, yet you know nothing of me. Let me introduce myself. I am Badru, head of the Lunari, and these are my elders, Atsu and Ata, the twins.”